Rising gas prices could help Columbiana County, but not others, expert says

YOUNGSTOWN

If oil and natural-gas prices increase substantially, new well drilling likely will get a boost in Columbiana County, but the prospects aren’t good in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, an industry expert said.

“Right now, you’re really just looking at Belmont, Harrison, Monroe, and maybe a little bit of Noble County” as the focus of drilling activity, said Mike Chadsey, public-relations director for the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, a 3,000-member industry group.

“As the price shrunk, the geographic play shrunk; and, as price expands, the play will expand,” Chadsey said.

Chadsey was among about 65 people who attended a luncheon last week sponsored by the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber at Mill Creek MetroParks’ Fellows Riverside Gardens, which featured Ohio Department of Natural Resources officials as speakers.

Read more about what they said in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.